A MAN was jailed for three years and ordered to be given six strokes of the cane on Wednesday for trying to rob a woman.

Koh Lye Soon, 45, had threatened Ms Li Ji Hong, 38, in Mandarin: 'Miss, Robbery'' and shown her a syringe, claiming it contained the HIV virus, when he stopped her at a staircase of Block 334 Kreta Ayer Road on Sept 18.

Out of fear, she fled down the staircase and called the police.

Police came and saw Koh loitering at the second floor staircase near Block 333 and arrested him. They found a syringe and an unused needle in the pocket of his pants.

Koh has previous convictions for robbery, armed robbery, drug possession and theft.